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Some Arctic beluga whales now leave the Arctic 2-4 weeks later because of delayed sea ice formation there. The change happens because the southward migration of beluga whales from the Eastern Chukchi Sea population through to the Bering Sea is determined largely by the date of sea ice formation in the Arctic areas north of Alaska, and sea ice formation is happening later in the year.

Almost 100 hydropower dams are planned on the 2700 mile Mekong River, which is a huge economic driving force and a food source for millions living in Burma, China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. While these dams will supply much-needed electricity, they will change the flow patterns on the river, which could impact businesses and food security from fisheries. New research now shows how to solve this tradeoff: regulate water releases from the dams so that there are long periods of low water flow interspersed with pulses of flooding.

Withering syndrome is a disease that strikes abalone species throughout the Northeast Pacific Ocean, and is one of the main drivers of recent population declines. This disease is long-term and chronic and is caused by an infection inside the cells of abalone of tiny bacteria in the order Rickettsiales. A new study examines how three abalone species react to withering syndrome infections at different temperature, finding that cool-water pinto abalone succumb at the lowest temperature (17.3°C), red abalone at an intermediate temperature (18.0°C), and warm-water pink abalone at higher temperatures (18.8°C).

Black swan events are highly improbable events that nevertheless occur, and drive risk estimation in stock market collapses, earthquake frequency, and deaths from the largest wars. But how often do animal populations exhibit surprisingly large booms and busts? A new study finds strong evidence for black swan events in about 4% of animal populations, typically driven by climate, severe winters, predators and parasites.

The natural pattern of river flows, with frequent flood events, has been substantially altered worldwide through dams and other forms of water diversion for human uses. A new modeling study now shows that changing historical flow patterns results in simplified interactions between plant species in and around rivers, and the replacement of large riverside trees with shrubs. These changes to plant species are influenced by the loss of frequent floods, increased droughts, and a river flow pattern that is more stable than is normal.

Native oysters are important players in many nearshore ocean ecosystems, but their numbers are declining worldwide. Restoration success depends on how well oysters survive when transplanted to new habitats. In a new experiment, native Olympia oysters were transplanted among oyster regions in Puget Sound in a reciprocal fashion to see how this affected their survival, growth, and reproduction. There were substantial differences in each small population of Olympia oysters within Puget Sound, providing information on which source population would be best suited for broad-scale oyster restoration in the region.

Fish catch limits are set based on the results of complex fisheries stock assessment models, which are somewhat like weather forecast models, but for fish populations. An examination of historical assessments of Australian fisheries has determined that there is considerable uncertainty in estimates of fish biomass, with a 95% chance that stock assessment estimates of spawning biomass are within half to double of the best estimates.

Endangered whooping cranes form long-term monogamous bonds, but it has not previously been known when these pair bonds first form. New data now reveals that 62% of breeding pairs actually form more than a full year before breeding, and 28% of breeding pairs begin to “date” more than two years before breeding starts. These findings suggest there are substantial benefits to partnering in addition to breeding, perhaps to support each other when competing with other birds or to increase partner familiarity.

The Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia is a seasonal wetland that floods every year during the rainy season. New research examining the isotope ratios in carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen in fish, shows that fish species benefit greatly from this flooding because it expands their access to new and different types of food contained in the newly flooded areas. The resulting highly diverse assemblage of fish species are the basis of a productive fishery that is a major provider of food in the region, which will be impacted in uncertain ways by the planned construction of more than 200 dams in the greater Mekong River Basin that feeds Tonle Sap Lake.

Chinook salmon on the Snake and Columbia rivers face challenges, notably navigating through hydropower systems, during their migration from freshwater to the ocean; these experiences may change their survival in the ocean. A recent laboratory experiment compared Chinook salmon that were barged through five or seven dams (experiencing cooler temperatures) to those that swim through the hydropower system (experiencing warmer temperatures).

The School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences is dedicated to sustaining healthy marine and freshwater environments. Our faculty conduct innovative research from the organism to the ecosystem scale, and are recognized leaders in aquatic biology, sustainable fisheries management and aquatic resource conservation.